More than 4,000 children are living in poverty in Cambridge, new figures have revealed.

The End Child Poverty coalition has published new figures which show more than three million children are living in poverty in the UK – including 22.4 per cent of children in the East of England as a whole.

The rest of Cambridgeshire does not fare much better with 13.8 per cent in South Cambridgeshire, 17.3 per cent in Huntingdonshire and 15.8 per cent in East Cambridgeshire.

However, despite poverty existing in every part of Cambridge, the figures show the city is divided.

As many as 33 per cent of children in King’s Hedges and 31 per cent in East Chesterton are living in poverty compared with just 2 per cent in Market ward.

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Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner said: “It is utterly disgraceful that the Tories are plunging a generation of children into poverty.

“People are right to be shocked by this report’s findings – but it comes as no surprise to those of us who have been pointing out for some time that Cambridge is a very divided city.”

The coalition of charities, faith groups and unions is warning that the benefits freeze in place until the end of the decade will mean that as prices rise, low income families will find it increasingly hard to pay for the same basic essentials.

Daniel Zeichner

At the same time, recent cuts to in-work support under Universal Credit further penalise low income working families – pushing more working families below the poverty line.

Mr Zeichner added: “The Government have an opportunity to use the upcoming Autumn Statement to end the freeze on children’s benefits, and to reverse the cuts to in-work benefits under Universal Credit. They must take it.”

The figures show child poverty is the highest in large cities, particularly in London, Birmingham and Manchester and lowest in constituencies Gordon, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, Sheffield Hallam, and York Outer.